How Mice Cause Major Issues in Boise Homes

Mice are small animals that can sneak through the smallest of holes, but they have the ability to cause big problems. The secret to mouse control begins with understanding how they behave and why this behavior can be so problematic to you and your Boise home. Once you know the basics, it is easy to understand the natural prevention tips that work to deter mice from causing trouble inside your home.

Habits & Behaviors of the Common Mouse

While there are some differences between types of mice, there are a few ways all pest mice behave. Here are a few you should consider if you live in the Boise area:

• Because mice can’t see very well, they make up for their poor eyesight by using their whiskers to feel objects around them. Mice move throughout your yard using their whiskers and objects scattered in your yard as a road map to your house.
• Mice use their incredible sense of smell as another way to navigate. Researchers believe that mice create a map of the odors in their environment. They'll use smells that already exist, such as garbage, compost, or dog droppings, and also lay down a scent of their own. Mice leave droplets of urine everywhere they explore.
• Mice are drawn to tiny holes because they are thigmotactic. This is a fancy way of saying that they have a strong response to touch stimuli. When they see holes, they like to squeeze into them, even if the holes are very small. Mice can squeeze into holes as small as ¼ inch wide, or the width of a pencil!
• Mice eat lots of things, including seeds, nectar, bugs, and other natural food sources. They also eat food found in trash receptacles and dumpsters. In a pinch, they'll feed on animal waste.
• Mice have incisors that never stop growing. They file these teeth down by chewing on things.

What Makes Mice So Problematic?

When a mouse gets inside your home, it is likely to think it has stumbled into the most wonderful place on earth. Your home feels like spring and summer all year long, it offers protection from predators, and it is the perfect place to raise a family. Unfortunately, mice don't live in your home without causing harm.

• As mice explore dark voids in your home, they will leave their waste in many areas to help them navigate with their sense of smell. Their waste causes contamination, which can lead to sickness.
• Mice are not only drawn to holes, they also create holes. You can expect them to chew holes in baseboards, sheetrock, stored furniture, and many other things.
• Mice are always looking for food. They eat as many as 20 times a day. You can be sure that they'll explore your kitchen and pantry. In these areas, they can cause contamination.
• Mice are always chewing on things to check to see if they are food and to file down their teeth. House mice are known to chew on wires, which can lead to a house fire.

It is not good to have wild mice inside your home because there are far too many ways they can negatively impact you, your family, and your house.

The Most Effective Way to Get Rid of Mice in Your Home

If you are in Boise, Idaho, reach out to Averse Pest Control for mouse and rodent control. Our technicians use field-tested methods and advanced technologies to get control of mouse infestations. We can help you get mice out and keep them out.

Five Simple & Effective Tips for Keeping Mice out of Your House

If you are currently dealing with a mouse infestation, give Averse Pest a call. Catching mice is often difficult and it is best to hire a licensed professional to take care of you and your home. But, if you don't have an infestation yet, here are several natural ways you can deter mice:

1. Patch holes. You can purchase a foam sealant for mice or just get a caulking gun and apply silicone caulk. Wire mesh and steel wool are also great solutions to keep mice out of little holes in your home. All of these will work to patch the holes and gaps mice will use to get into your home. Seal all possible entry points including doors, windows, vents, holes, and cracks and holes in the crawlspace.
2. Remove yard clutter. If you do this, you'll make it more difficult for mice to traverse your yard and come closer to your foundation.
3. Apply home maintenance. Make sure your weatherstripping, door sweeps, and screens are in good working condition.
4. Protect the food inside your home. Put pantry and kitchen foods in sealed containers, keep food on shelves away from the ground, and keep your home as clean as possible. Make sure to clean up spills and crumbs as quickly as possible.
5. Reduce food options. Mice are highly attracted to areas where seeds can be found. Remove bird feeders or move them well away from your exterior. Make sure trash bags are in covered containers and keep pet waste picked up.

If you take these steps, you can keep mice away. When you need to remove mice and keep them away, it pays to get professional assistance from Averse Pest Control.